FACIL’s Operations

In order to assist the ethnic minority resident population community, we help translate necessary information and dispatch interpreters into areas where they may require urgent translation (eg: at hospitals). We believe that our role is to facilitate language boundaries within a community by providing news from various administrative, medical and regional business bodies so that multi-ethnic residents can better participate and contribute to their community as local citizens. We operate as a non-profit community business run by volunteers from various specialized fields. As a result, we presently provide a service in 28 different languages.

Yoshitomi is the director of NPO Multilanguage Center FACIL, part time lecturer at Kwansei Gakuin University, has a master’s degree in International Studies at Kobe University and a doctorate in Humanities and Environment Studies at Kyoto University. After graduating from Kansai Gaidai University, Yoshitomi began work as an executive assistant at various South American Consulate Generals such as the Argentine Consulate General in Kobe and has worked as a Spanish language instructor and a Japanese language instructor in Spanish.

Yoshitomi is the director of NPO Multilanguage Center FACIL, part time lecturer at Kwansei Gakuin University, has a master’s degree in International Studies at Kobe University and a doctorate in Humanities and Environment Studies at Kyoto University. After graduating from Kansai Gaidai University, Yoshitomi began work as an executive assistant at various South American Consulate Generals such as the Argentine Consulate General in Kobe and has worked as a Spanish language instructor and a Japanese language instructor in Spanish.

Since the 1990 amendment to the Immigration Control Act, which led to a rapid rise in the numbers of South Americans of Japanese decent immigrating to Japan, Yoshitomi began activities such as the overseeing of Spanish language guidebooks about living in Kansai. In 1995 when the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake struck, Yoshitomi participated in the founding of community radio station “FM YY” and the establishment of Foreigner Assistance Network. Owing to her experience of being involved in activities for the fostering of a multilingual environment and support for children with ethnic roots, she decided to continue working in activities for the assistance of foreign residents.

Other prominent appointments include:

• Joint representative of the Hyogo Citizens Activities Association.
• Director of NPO Takatori Community Center.
• Human Rights Problems Research Advisor of the Hyogo Human Rights Promotion Association.
• Member of the Hyogo Prefectural Citizens Activities Council.
• Member of the Hyogo Prefectural Specialist Policy Association for the Application of Foreign Human Resources.
• Director of the Japan Association for Migration Policy Studies, etc.

Yoshitomi is…

• The author of “Multicultural Symbiotic Society and the Power of the Foreign Community: Do self-help organisation that avoid ghettoization really exist? [Tabunka Kyōsei Shakai to Gaikokujin Komyunitei no Chikara: Gettokashinai Jijyo Soshiki ha Sonzaisuruka?]” by Gendaijin Coporation Publishing (October 2008).
• Joint-author of “‘Power of Multi-culture’ Society [‘Tabunka Pawā’ Shakai]” by Mei’ishi Shoten (September 2007).
• Joint-author of “Theory on Contemporary Regional Media [Gendai Chi’iki Medeiaron]” by Nihon Hyōron Company (December 2007).
• Joint-author of “The Future of Community Media [Komyunitei Medeia no Mirai]” by Akiyō Shobō (April 2010), etc.

More information can be found at Shizuyo Yoshitomi’s blog. Click here to see.